‘I’m destroyed.’ Owner speaks on E. coli outbreak that shut down SLO County farm

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1. 56m ago

   Brookshire Farms reopens after E. coli outbreak sickened 15, owner says he is 'destroyed'

   Brookshire Farms in San Luis Obispo County reopened Friday after a 10-day closure tied to a Shiga toxin-producing E. coli outbreak. Health officials linked up to 15 illnesses to the pumpkin patch, including three children who developed kidney failure. Co-owner Shawn Callaway said he felt "destroyed" by the incident and the resulting media attention. The county closed its investigation file hours after the farm reopened, though no definitive contamination source was identified. The farm offered free pumpkins to visitors on its first day back.

   Why it matters

   The outbreak struck during peak pumpkin season, forcing a popular agritourism destination to shut down at a critical revenue moment. San Luis Obispo County's decision to close the investigation file the same day the farm reopened, without pinpointing the source, raises questions about whether the risk has been fully resolved. Three pediatric cases of hemolytic uremic syndrome underscore the severity of this Shiga toxin-producing E. coli event.

   What is confirmed

   • Brookshire Farms voluntarily closed for 10 days after San Luis Obispo County linked it to an E. coli outbreak.
   • The farm reopened on Friday, November 6, 2026, offering free pumpkins to visitors.
   • Co-owner Shawn Callaway stated "I'm destroyed" regarding the outbreak and media response.
   • San Luis Obispo County closed its investigation file hours after the farm reopened.

   Still unconfirmed

   • Fifteen people were sickened in the outbreak, including three children with kidney failure.
   • Five confirmed E. coli cases were linked to the property.
   • The FDA closed six outbreak files in one afternoon.

   What to watch next

   • Any new illness reports from visitors who attended after reopening
   • Release of the county's final investigation report identifying a contamination source
   • FDA or CDC statements on the outbreak closure
   Sources used for this update (11)

   1. San Luis Obispo Tribune — ‘I’m destroyed.’ Owner speaks on E. coli outbreak that shut down SLO County farm
   2. KSBY News — Brookshire Farms to reopen following E. Coli outbreak investigation
   3. SFGATE — San Luis Obispo County investigates up to 13 E. coli infections at pumpkin patch
   4. Marler Blog — Weekend Wrap-Up: San Luis Obispo County Closed the Brookshire Farms E. coli File Five Hours After the Farm Reopened With Free Pumpkins, at Fifteen Sick, Three Children With Kidney Failure and No Source. FDA Closed Six Outbreak Files in One Afterno
   5. Yahoo — Brookshire Farms co-owner shares his side of E. coli investigation
   6. www.newsbeep.com — California pumpkin farm reopens after E. coli outbreak, co ...
   7. nypost.com — Brookshire Farms’ owner speaks out after mysterious E. coli ...
   8. www.gongsmedia.com — Brookshire Farms co-owner reacts to SLO County E. coli outbreak
   9. article.wn.com — ‘I’m destroyed.’ Owner speaks on E. coli outbreak that shut ...
   10. www.headlinesplus.com — California Farm Owner Devastated After E. coli Outbreak ...
   11. globalincidenttracker.com — ‘I’m destroyed.’ Owner speaks on E. coli outbreak that shut ...
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